US President Donald Trump has said the war with Iran is “very close to being over”, announcing possible key developments in the coming days. At the same time, Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir arrived in Tehran with the aim of reducing tensions and bringing the two sides closer together.
There are signs that US and Iranian delegations may soon return to Islamabad to continue negotiations, after previous talks ended without an agreement.
Optimistic messages from Washington
Trump expressed his belief that Iran wants to reach a deal and that an extension of the two-week ceasefire may not be necessary.
US Vice President JD Vance said that Washington is striving for a “grand deal”, but stressed that there is still deep distrust between the two countries.
The key point of contention remains Iran’s nuclear program – the US is seeking a long-term suspension of activities, while Iran is offering a shorter period of restrictions with the lifting of sanctions.
Maritime tensions and blockade
The US has imposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports, stopping and turning back some tankers from the Strait of Hormuz. Despite this, a major direct conflict at sea has been avoided for now.
Iran has warned that it could retaliate and threatened to suspend trade in key shipping lanes if the blockade continues.
Global consequences of the conflict
The war has severely disrupted global energy markets, particularly due to restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant part of the world’s oil and gas passes. Oil prices remain volatile.
An estimated 5,000 people have been killed in the conflict, including thousands of civilians in Iran and Lebanon.
Continuing negotiations crucial
Despite tensions and threats of escalation, diplomatic channels remain open. Sources say that behind-the-scenes negotiations have already narrowed differences between the parties, which increases the chances of reaching an agreement in the next rounds of talks.
